Jeffrey H. Haynes, M.D., FACS, FAAP
MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician Award
Arnold M. Salzberg Professor of Surgery
Department: School of Medicine
Compassion, clinical effectiveness, efficiency, comprehensiveness, professionalism, availability, and responsiveness to patients are not only the criteria for the MCV Physicians Distinguished Clinician Award, they are the hallmarks of Dr. Jeffrey Haynes's career. His impact on pediatric surgery and trauma care at the VCU Health System is unparalleled. As Chief of the Pediatric Surgery Division at Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU and Pediatric Trauma Director, Dr. Haynes has been committed to the improvement of pediatric patient outcomes and care for three decades. He played an instrumental role in CHoR achieving and continuously maintaining its Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center designation by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) since 2013. Dr. Haynes's persistent advocacy also led to the creation of state-designated pediatric trauma centers, with CHoR proudly becoming the first in 2015. Renowned for his expertise in general, oncologic, thoracic, and minimally invasive pediatric surgery, Dr. Haynes and his team have served as the sole Pediatric Surgical group covering all of Central Virginia since 1999, providing crucial consultations and referrals for the entire region.
Vigneshwar Kasirajan, M.D., Stuart McGuire Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, describes Dr. Haynes as a "deeply kind and humble soul" whose practice is built upon "giving the greatest care to our most vulnerable patients and their families" and providing "cutting-edge surgical care” for the best results. David Lanning, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Chief Medical Officer, CHoR and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, lauds Dr. Haynes's trauma program for its "exceptional outcomes and high patient/family satisfaction ratings." Dr. Haynes has been instrumental in securing resources for in-hospital substance use screening for injured adolescents and developing programs focused on the long-term well-being of children following traumatic injury. Furthermore, Dr. Haynes actively engages with the EMS community, providing vital education and training on best practices for caring for injured children in the pre-hospital setting. He played a key role in developing and implementing CHoR’s Pediatric Trauma Manual and the Pediatric Focused Trauma Care Course, a unique educational resource for residents and EMS personnel. He has contributed broadly to the pediatric surgical literature and has co-edited two pediatric surgical textbooks.
Dr. Haynes’s comprehensiveness extends beyond the hospital walls; his practice serves both urban and rural communities, and he actively participates in international outreach programs such as the World Pediatric Project. His clinical service includes outpatient clinics at multiple locations and 24/7 emergency and inpatient coverage across CHoR/VCU Health System, Chippenham Hospital, and Henrico Doctors Hospital NICU. Additionally, his influential role in governance, serving for over a decade as the pediatric trauma representative to the Virginia Department of Health's Trauma Administrative and Governance Committee, highlights his wide-ranging impact. As a beacon of professionalism, Dr. Haynes is a "hardworking and dedicated surgeon, a high-impact leader,” and a “natural teacher," according to Dr. Kasirajan, and he is an inspiration as well as a role model for students, residents, and fellow faculty. Dr. Haynes’s leadership style, best characterized as a "spirit of collaboration," effectively brings together diverse disciplines to build consensus for evidence-based practices, which has significantly reduced complications and improved clinical outcomes. His availability is equally impressive; Dr. Lanning notes that Dr. Haynes is "always the first one to help cover" and maintains extensive call duties, totaling eight to 10 calls per month, including in-house coverage for the Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Additionally, Dr. Haynes teaches in various clinical settings at all hours of the day and night.
Dr. Haynes is the 2025 recipient of the Rao R. Ivatury Award recognizing clinical excellence, mentorship and education in acute care at VCU Health. His career is a testament to extraordinary clinical dedication and leadership. He truly embodies all the attributes of a distinguished clinician, standing as a shining example of VCU Health’s commitment to exceptional patient care, education, and research.